Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized Tajik authorities for not fully respecting the rights of families being resettled to make way for the Roghun hydroelectric dam.

In a statement issued on June 25, HRW said the Tajik government has not provided displaced families with compensation to replace their homes or restore their livelihoods, despite commitments to meet international standards in the resettlement process.

According to the HRW statement, many resettled families have suffered serious disruptions in access to housing, food, water, and education.

Some 1,500 families have been resettled from the area since 2009.

The Roghun dam and hydropower plant is expected to displace more than 42,000 people before it is operational.

HRW also urged the World Bank and other potential donors to work with Tajik authorities to ensure that human rights are respected throughout the resettlement process.